Northam: A doctor's mission led to politics

October 20, 2013|By Dave Ress, dress@dailypress.com

A native of the Eastern Shore, Ralph Northam has practiced pediatric neurology at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters since returning to Virginia after eight years as an Army doctor, which included service in the Gulf War.

A graduate of Virginia Military Institute and Eastern Virginia Medical School, Northam has served in the state Senate since 2008.

He says it was frustration that got him into politics – feeling dictated to by insurers about how to care for his patients, concerned that Medicaid patients were being short-changed. On top of that, memories of the Chesapeake Bay lapping the shore behind the farm he grew up on made him worry that the state wasn't doing enough to protect those waters.

As a legislator, he's particularly proud of his efforts to fight a bill that would have required invasive ultrasound exams for women seeking abortions, as well as his sponsorship of a law than bans smoking in restaurants and another that requires guidelines to protect student athletes from brain damage due to sports-related concussions.

"When I came to the state Senate, four of us — Richard Stuart from the Northern Neck and Jill Vogel, both Republicans, and me and John Miller, Democrats — decided we'd form a commonwealth caucus, trying not to be so dictated to by party caucuses," he said. One big early move: In 2008, he and Miller bucked their party to break up a gridlock over judicial selections. Hampton Roads had too many empty slots to play politics with, they felt.

One thing few people know about Northam is that he is the volunteer medical director for Edmarc Hospice for Children, a role he hopes to continue if elected.

"It keeps things in perspective," he said.

A key reason he decided to run for lieutenant governor is to halt efforts to insert the government between women and their doctors on abortion and other reproductive matters. Northam said protecting the rights of same-sex couples is important to him, too.

He favors expanding Medicaid, the joint federal-state health insurance for the poor and disabled, using the funds available under the Affordable Care Act.

He wants to expand access to pre-kindergarten programs. Vocation education is also a priority, in part because "in high school, my favorite class was small-engine repair," and in part because of the success NASA has had working with Eastern Shore Community College and nearby high schools to train people to fill key jobs at Wallops Island.

Northam said he supports federal efforts to step up the pace of efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.